Clinton Fiscal Court held its regular monthly meeting last Thursday evening, July 21, with all members present. The vast majority of the just over one-hour session dealt with the volunteer coordinator position for the Tri-County Animal Shelter and a separate article on that issue can be found beginning elsewhere on the front page.

The court first approved the monthly and year-end treasurer’s report by unanimous vote. However, in what has become almost routine at regular meetings, the court split down the middle on paying claims and bills that were presented.

Magistrate Ricky Craig and others posed several questions about some of the bills that were presented to the court for consideration, including but not limited to the sheriff’s bond, t-shirts purchased for some employees, a report on the Wellness Center re-payments to the court, and again, the county supplying inmates on work detail for the county meals.

Following the questions and answer session, magistrate Johnny Russell made the motion to pay the claims and bills as presented, with magistrate Terry Buster seconding the motion. They and Magistrate Hershell Key voted yes, while magistrates Mickey Riddle, Craig and Patty Guinn voting no. Judge/Executive Richard Armstrong again broke the tie vote with a ‘yes,’ passing the motion 4-3.

Each magistrate was given the opportunity to explain their no votes, with each saying they disagreed with some of the bills presented, including the payment of the sheriff’s bond.

Sheriff Jim Guffey stated he had already paid the bond amount in full and on the claims and bills, the final bond payment for the total four-year current term in office was listed as a payment in the amount of $16,000. However, the dissenting magistrates apparently felt the payments should be reimbursed on an “annual” basis instead of one lump sum.

Judge/Executive Armstrong told court members that by paying the bond for the total four-year period at once would save the county money in annual interest.

Some of the magistrates noted they were not opposed to paying for the bond, but again felt the payments should be made yearly instead in one lump sum.

Magistrate Mickey Riddle, in relation to the t-shirts purchased, noted he felt they shouldn’t have been purchased from someone who has indirect ties to the county.

Another ongoing issue is that some magistrates feel the county should not supply meals to inmates at the jail who help work with the road department while on work release, but feel like the food should be provided by the jail, from the jail budget.

Again, Judge/Executive Armstrong said by using the county inmates, they (county) were being reimbursed through the Litter Abatement grant and the county was saving around $600 monthly by using the inmates.

Following the vote on the claims and bills, business moved forward with no further split votes.

The court voted unanimously to approve the monthly fund transfers and a Road Aid agreement and Road Aid resolution with the Department of Transportation pertaining to the state’s FLEX funds to repair some county roads.

In the absence of County Clerk Shelia Booher, who was out-of-town for a clerk’s conference, Deputy Judge/Executive Joy Armstrong presented the county with a check totaling $2,956 from Booher’s office in excess fees, which brought the total in fees turned over from her office to a little over $18,000 from the past fiscal year.

After a lengthy discussion about the animal shelter coordinator position, magistrate Ricky Craig asked Judge/Executive Armstrong if he could help with getting the county road department to make some repairs to areas in his (fourth) district, which he stated he had already requested from the road foreman at previous times.

Armstrong said there may be a couple of reasons why the road crew hadn’t gotten to the work yet, including they were now in another round of mowing, but said he would relay the request.

The court also voted to increase the pay of Anthony Whitley, who has served his probation period as an employee on the road department, from $8.50 to $9 per hour.

The next regular meeting of Clinton Fiscal Court is scheduled for Thursday, August 18 at 5 p.m. in the upstairs courtroom of the courthouse. The meeting is open to the general public.